Page 61 of Forecasting the Forward

“Are they done yet?” she asks, her voice muffled. “I feel like they all think I’m giving you a blow job right now.”

Shit. She’s right, and as soon as I let go of her head, she pops up, her hair in disarray. Fortunately, no one is looking at us. They’re all comfortable and in their seats. “Sorry about that. Guess I got a little self-conscious there for a sec.”

She gives me a sweet smile. “I don’t see why you’d be. You’re pretty impressive, Jacob Mitchell. Now tell me why they all did that.”

“We always do it. No one wants to fly for hours in an uncomfortable suit.”

“Do all teams undress on the plane?” she asks. “What about other sports?”

“No clue. Guess I’ll have to ask my friend Jamie if the NFL teams do this as well. The NHL is a stickler for game day travel outfits, though. Other sports let guys dress however they want.”

“Do you want to get undressed?” she asks shyly. Her hand finds my tie, tugging on it. “You do look handsome all dressedup, but I understand it must be cumbersome for a three or four hour flight.”

“I’m fine. You better stop looking at me like that, though, or I’ll have us joining the mile high club here before long.”

Becca blinks rapidly. “You most certainly will not. Have you seen those bathrooms? They’re disgusting, and there isn’t enough room for anything good to happen.”

I fake stretching before laying my arm around her shoulders. “I don’t know how much you know about hockey players, but we’re actually pretty flexible.”

She cocks a brow at me. “Is that so?”

I nod, leaning toward Becca and pecking her lips quickly. “If you want to find out how bendy I am, just say the word.”

Usually on trips,I’m in my own little world. I might read, take a nap, or zone out while listening to some music. None of that happens with Becca next to me. When we weren’t talking, I found myself just watching her. I truly don’t think she knows how beautiful she is. Physically, yes. But her soul is what speaks to me. Her breathtaking soul makes me want to do anything to make her happy.

We talked about where we both like to hike, and how she thinks her dog will react to me. I’ve yet to broach the subject of my guinea pig room to her in full. Most people think I’m embellishing details. That it’s probably just a big cage or two. Nope, it’s a whole ass room.

We discussed what we both like to eat, and I found that our daily diets are pretty in tune with one another. At first, whenBecca started talking about clean eating, I worried she thought she was fat. That isn’t the case. She’s very conscientious of what she puts in her body, especially colorants and chemicals. When I told her I love to cook when I can, she excitedly began making plans for all the healthy meals we can prepare together each week.

I asked if she’d be okay with moving in with me, and she agreed. I have the space. My apartment is probably too big for just me and the pigs. Besides, I like knowing she’ll be in a safer apartment building when I’m on away trips.

Becca falls asleep as we’re beginning our approach into Denver, and I’m surprised when her phone vibrates with an incoming call. Being a nosy husband, I look at the screen, only to growl when I see it’s her brother. Leaning away from Becca, I answer the call.

“What the fuck do you want, asshole?” I hiss.

“Oh. It’s thehusband,” Rodney sneers. “Interesting that it seems you only got married last night, when my dear sister insinuated you were already legally wed.”

“Really doesn’t matter now, does it? She’s my wife, and you can go fuck yourself.”

“My, my. Hockey players sure do have vulgar mouths,” he says cheerfully. “It doesn’t matter. Your marriage will end, one way or another, and I’ll get my way.”

“The fuck you will,” I snarl. “Let me make something perfectly clear, Ronald.”

“It’s Rodney.”

“I literally don’t fucking care.” I cast a quick glance down at Becca, wondering if she’s faking sleep, as I continue. “You so much as glance at my wife, and I’ll make you pay. You’ve very much underestimated me. I will stop at nothing to protect her. Understood?”

Rodney laughs heartily. “You won’t do a damn thing. It would end your precious hockey career.”

“You think I care about that? I’ve got the girl of my dreams and millions in my bank accounts. Test me, Randolph. Just fucking test me. Lose this fucking number.”

I end the call, then go into Becca’s contacts and find Rodney’s info. First, I forward his contact to my phone, and then I block him from Becca’s. Good riddance.

“He won’t stop until I do what he wants,” Becca says clearly, jarring me. Her head pops up, and a sheen of tears threatens to spill down her cheeks. “He won’t stop. He’ll drag you through the media. He’ll get you fired. He’ll go after your money. It won’t end until he gets his way.”

Turning, I gently grasp her chin with my thumb and forefinger. “Sounds like your brother and I share a couple of traits. Tenacity being one of them, but also stubbornness. I’ll be damned if I let that little jackass try to bully me into giving you up. You’re mine, darlin’. And I protect what’s mine.”

She gives me a shaky smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “No one has ever called me theirs before. Does that mean you’re mine as well?”

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